ABSTRACT
This part introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters. The part demonstrates that train counselors to conduct short-term nonstructured counseling and psychotherapy groups successfully in the school and elsewhere. Clinicians and researchers alike have claimed that group psychotherapy is yet a mature profession, particularly child group psychotherapy. The obstacles in child group counseling and psychotherapy are even greater, because children find it difficult to complete questionnaires, self-reported information is often unreliable, questionnaires developed particularly for children are scarce, and it is difficult to obtain permission from school authorities and parents to investigate children. Researchers are also reluctant to studygroups, mainly because of the complexity of such research, but also because of the lack of professional prestige afforded to group counseling and psychotherapy owing to the weak scientific base of the profession.
